Fears have been raised that a burial site underneath land earmarked for development could bring the risk of deadly disease contamination.

A section of land on Yeovil’s north edge is currently included as an option in the town’s Local Plan, which sets out future development sites.

However, the site has a dark past which a local parish council fears could lead to gruesome consequences should the land be built on.

Mudford Parish Council (MPC) has raised safety concerns about buried animal carcasses underneath the land at Upper Mudford off Primrose Lane.

The 54 acre site off Primrose Lane, marked here on the right as YEOV 9, is part of Yeovil's proposed Local Plan for development

A new report from Land Quality Management Ltd has concluded that the land earmarked for development has not been sufficiently investigated for a possible presence of anthrax.

Anthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease that normally affects animals, but can be transmitted to humans by contact with infected animals or their products.

The report states: “The site comprises 54 hectares of agricultural land which is suspected of being contaminated inter alia with waste from historic tanneries in the Mudford area and the burial of Anthrax-diseased cattle carcasses.

“The evidentiary basis for the risk derives from statements from local residents identifying episodes of Anthrax in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

“South Somerset District Council concedes that the disposal of tannery waste is a possibility and has a record of animal burial at the site.”

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The parish council has sent the report to South Somerset District Council (SSDC), with a letter which states: “The level of sampling and potential risk management required for a developer to secure a safe development as required under the National Planning Policy Framework calls into question the viability of delivering of the site for eventual housing.”

Following these serious concerns, MPC has requested to have the proposed Upper Mudford Site removed from the Local Plan.

A spokesperson for the district council said: "SSDC has received a representation from Mudford Parish Council within the last seven days which is being considered and will involve dialogue with the applicant for the current planning application on the site."